The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-09-27
UUI IIFUo 10 vi HOlUK
We wish to employ.

We wish TO employ.
Prayer by Elder Farley P. Pratt.
The services were further continued
by the singing by the choir and congre-
CATION of the hymn:
o my Father, thou that dwellest
In the high and glorious place!
ELDER JOHN NICHOLSON, being unex-
pectedIy called upon to speak, re-
marked, on rising, that he trusted he
would have the sympathy, faith and at
tention of the congregation, that they
and he might be mutually instructed.
He had no special topic on his mind on
which to speak, but relied upon the as
sistance of the Spirit of God for sub
iect. To those who had embraced the
fulness of the everlasting gospel, there
was one point for their consideration,
and that was, what course was best to
pursue in order to be consistent with
their religious professions. seek first
the kingdom of God and its righteous
ness and all other things shall be
added" the Scriptures teach all, and it
behooved all to see that they were not
doing the reverse of observing this in
junction. If the Saints are not careful,
are they not liable TO become subject TO
idolatry he asked. Are they not apt
to follow the example set oy the children
of Israel when they set up the golden
calf, during the absence of Moses?
There seemed to him to be a disposition
on the part OF many to make the pur
suit of the gods of tbs world their
principal object. This is contrary to
the instruction contained in the passage
quoted. 1t is seeking first the things of
the world and laying aside the king
dom of God and its righteousness. While
it is good for man to seek after those
things which will comfort and cheer on
life's pathway, it is necessary to observe
the words of Jesus, who was himself
poor. When we seek after the desirable
things of this life, and-work hard there
for, they should be sought after and
handled with due reverence for the
things of heaven, for the life hereafter.
In secular affairs there are many
things that are considered lawful by
men of the world yet deemed unla vful
by the rules of the gospel, he said, and
illustrated the proposition by supposing
a poor person appealing to one who had
power TO relieve, but buys his redemp-
ton with a price. Does anything like
this occur among this people? Very
rarely. 1t is not the spirit Of the COS
pei. If a man were drowning and he
called to passer-by for help, and the
latter remained passive and saw the
man sink for the last time, would it be
according to the spirit of the gospel to
ask a price for rescuing the drowning
man2 No, he would be denounced by
every right-minded man and woman.
There are various ways in which it can
be shown that the golden image is
Worshiped. Let man come suddenly
into the possession of wealth and he i'm
mediately becomes a celebrity, and his
name is rendered popular because of his
riches This is another phase of the in.
clinatIon of mankind to bow down to
the god of this world. 1t is unexcusable
in those who have undertaken to 'seek
first the kingdom of God and its right
riches of this life was shown by Elder
riches of the eternal world. No one is
permitted to take his wealth into the
next world. There is no royal road to
salvation; eternal life cannot be pur
chased with money. All are redeemed
by the atoDement, the condition being
obedience TO the laws and command
ments of God. There is no other wav
only through the name OF Christ, and
the way that He has pointed out. 1t is
needful that all men and women become
as little children, in order to enter the
kingdom of heaven. There is no Saint,
who is pulled up by his own import
ance, vain and boastful, who will enter
into the celestial glory. 1t is the degree
of being humble, even as child, which
Christ spoke of, that would entitle man
kind to salvation.
Elder Nicholson cited the parable of
the tree which bore evil fruit, and pro-
ceeded to say that there were those
whose conduct rendered them enemies
to themselves. But be is not only an
enemy to himself, but to those con-
nected with him and to the common
wealth in which he lives. On this point
he laid considerable stress, and showed
that the individual who so deported
himself as to cast dark shadow would
be marked and Stunned. One who does
take a course not upright, pure and
honest, the speaker held, has some eff
feet, by both his words and acts, upon
Outlets. luSISlOTo, IL Is ucCGSSdTy LOT
all to be cautious, for he who is intern
peIate, immoral or base, has more or
less bearing on public morality. There
is no knowing the extent or influence of
ones actions, for good or for evil. How
careful men should be! he remarked.
He that brings forth evil fruit will be
condemned If this spplies to mankind
generally, how much more will it apply
10 the Latter-day Saints, who profess to
have received revelation from God, and
to be connected with the true church. 1t
is, therefore, better to "seek first the
kingdom of God, !" etc.
We are more or less inclined-those in
poverty. at least-he continued, to give
way to the spirit of discomfort, and not
acknowledge the hand of God in all
things. He illustrated an idea he bad
on this subject. He had reason to be
thankful for the many blessings God
had showered upon the Saints, and for
one thing IN particular IN his OWE lie
he had cause to be thankful for, and it
was, that he was born in the midst OF
poverty, and to some extent was not
reared in any other condition. Some
might think this was peculiar cause
for gratitude. The Saints had been sent
here to meet vii b adversely and undergo
trials. in order to prove their integrity,
oO6 their OrpafpSf teacher Was oy-